Growing up, my best friend Val lived just down the block from us. She had a Beagle named Missy Bowser who was cute as could be as a puppy but, like many, grew fat and ornery as time marched on. We learned the hard way that her temperment was nowhere as sweet as she appeared. We’d pet her and play and tie ribbons around her neck and she’d grow increasingly impatient with our innocent abuse.
When she’d clearly had enough, rather than get up and leave, she’d let out this high, tea-kettle-like whistle. I guess that’s Beaglese for get the eff out of here. That whistle was our last chance to scram before she snapped at us. Of course it became a game. Make Missy whistle. Push her just far enough so she whistles but doesn’t snap. Great kids weren’t we?
In many respects, I feel like we do the same thing with our bodies. At least I do. In hindsight, there were warning signs before my ITB went. There were plenty of signals that my hamstring was going. Sometimes we lay off, usually we don’t. Sometimes we seek help. Sometimes we get inadequate help. Mostly we seek help only after it’s too late.
After vowing to get myofascial release on a regular basis at the end of last year, I haven’t been back. Sure the $$$ has a ton to do with that. The ‘whistle’ is sounding now on the other side. My right hamstring at the insertion point is ominously tight. As much as I hate the $$$ and the ass cheek-probing process, I’ve learned from experience and I’m done playing the game. I’m going in.
Is your body giving signs you’re ignoring?
haha! The ass-cheek probing process.
My body is doing pretty well right now, but I’m sure that’ll change when I start marathon training in a month or so. I’d like to think I’m listening to my body better now, but we’ll find out.
Good for you! I know when I look back on injuries, I can see that I was sick a lot, tired a lot, etc. and those are all signs that you are wearing down. Thankfully I can say that these days with my new form, I truly don’t have aches and pains. (knock on wood, right?). I’m pretty happy about that!
You’re 100% correct when you say we normally don’t get help till it’s too late! I’ve adopted this voice in my head that sends out reminds to foam roll and drink milk even when I’m feeling great. There’ll come a day and it could be tomorrow when it all comes crashing down.
Hope that hammy of yours loosens up!! What a literal pain in the butt 🙂
Enough that I decided to step back to just walking and regroup.
Great post about listening to your body! I try very hard to push myself a little, but take a rest day whenever my body tells me “listen, lady, give me a minute!”
I’m mad at you right now. You brought my awareness back that I am ignoring my right calf pain. Damn damn damn! Let me go back into my bubble…
and slap on some compression socks and foam roll.
Feel better!!!! Take care of yourself.
I’m glad you are listening to your body! We all ignore signs and often when it is too late to do anything about it. I hope you get it taken care of 🙂
I hope everything is ok! This is one area that I normally do pretty well with and I don’t have any problem walking if I need to or slowing down my pace or even cutting out a run if I feel like something isn’t right with my body.
I definitely have done this. I think in my mind that it will just work itself out. Plus, who wants to spend the dough? Way to listen to your body and get it taken care of:)
I hear ya on the money thing. I haven’t had ART done in awhile because of money and sometimes I can really feel it. I hope your session works for ya!
If I had named my doctors Dr. Pain and Notorious I’m not sure I’d want to go back to see them either!
I love this. I am glad you’re going in. This hip/groin thing was my first injury. and to be honest I didn’t have a good experience with getting answers – however I have not yet been to physio so maybe my mind will change. I’m not sure I’d know when to stop for the “whistle” – I thought I was doing great at listening to my body before but the fact that I’m left with no answers and huge physio bill leaves me in doubt! lol
feel better
Lower back pain, butt pain (& not my kids this time) and tight hammy. I guess I over did it! Started to see my chiropractor, yesterday, for some relief. Thank God for Dr. Lou!
A few days ago a fever blister (cold sore) started on my upper lip and I nipped it in the bud with some zinc ointment… have been applying it liberally to keep it at bay.
But I think my body is telling me to back off a bit. So, today’s run is going to be 3 miles instead of 5 miles and I may delay Saturday’s LSR to Sunday and get one more day of rest before doing another 11 mile run (which I think is what ran me down in the first place last weekend).
I get it… yes, you have to listen to the whistle!
It’s very easy to ignore all of the signs – but I think after we recover from injuries, we are tuned into the signs a bit better.
I’m in pretty good shape right now, but I’m sure my once every three weeks chiro visit is making a difference LOL. Maybe if I had listened when I first started to hurt I wouldn’t still be visiting so often…
that’s hilarious. although, poor dog, haha. for stuff like this – the $ is always worth it! i know, it still hurts a little when you get the bill, but it’s worth it.
awww… poor puppy. Glad you are listening to your body. Recover well and come back stronger!
Going in is the wise thing to do. You’ll wish you spent the money if you ignore the warning signs and end up sidelined for a while. Maybe you can ask you PT or chiropractor what they are feeling for and doing and try to learn how to probe your own ass cheek.
That high hamstring issue is a big pain in the butt! 🙂 I have spent a lot of time dealing with it – and didn’t get rid of it until it finally “popped”, not a good option. Good luck getting your body back in order – it’s important to runners – and mothers 🙂
I think I have always ignored signals, which is terrible but the more and more I push my body, it stops me in other ways. like this week I have been battling being exhausted which is not normal but could it be because I have been ignoring the slight knee pain I was feeling earlier this week? Not for sure, but I often notice that my body does a good job slowing me down one way or another. Or my voice of reason (my mom) will jump in and slow me down.
Good luck! I hope it’s nothing and goes away fast!
This is a great post. I have learned (more than once?!) to seek help earlier rather than later so I can really appreciate this. Currently I am on round 3 (when will I learn, right?!) of PT for my knee. I swear this is the last time.
Have a great weekend!
Marcia…i am a big geliever in NOT ignoring the signs…been there done that and look here I am today…still not healed and still not running. go for it and feel better…
the money factor sucks so I get ya…but feeling better in the end will be so worth it. I love your new site btw…I look forward to hearing about how your doing 🙂
Great and wise post. I am stupid and often I ignore the signs. I will never learn.
Good luck and recover well. All the best.